Career and Education Opportunities for Security Guards in San Francisco, California

Security guards can find many career and educational opportunities in the San Francisco, California area. There are currently 139,300 working security guards in California; this should grow by 15% to 160,300 working security guards in the state by 2016. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for security guards are expected to grow by about 14.2%. In general, security guards guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.

A person working as a security guard can expect to earn about $11 per hour or $23,550 per year on average in California and about $11 per hour or $23,460 yearly on average in the U.S. as a whole. Earnings for security guards are not quite as good as earnings in the general category of Police and Security in California and not quite as good as general Police and Security category earnings nationally. Jobs in this field include: gate tender, customer security clerk, and timber watchman.

There is one school within twenty-five miles of San Francisco where you can study to be a security guard, among eighty-six schools of higher education total in the San Francisco area. The most common level of education for security guards is a high school diploma or GED. You can expect to spend only a short time studying to be a security guard if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Security Guard

Security Guard video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

Security guards track and authorize entrance and departure of employees and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises. Finally, security guards call police or fire departments in cases of emergency.

Every day, security guards are expected to be able to focus attention on specific tasks without being distracted. They need to evaluate problems as they arise. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for security guards to circulate among visitors or employees to preserve order and protect property. They are often called upon to answer alarms and investigate disturbances. They also write reports of daily efforts and irregularities such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences. They are sometimes expected to patrol industrial or commercial premises to inhibit and detect signs of intrusion and insure security of doors and gates. Somewhat less frequently, security guards are also expected to answer telephone calls to take messages and furnish data during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.

They also have to be able to operate detecting devices to screen individuals and avoid passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas and escort or drive motor vehicle to move individuals to specified locations or to furnish personal protection. And finally, they sometimes have to operate detecting devices to screen individuals and avoid passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.

Like many other jobs, security guards must have strong self control in the face of challenging situations and be able to deal with stress and deal with situations calmly.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in San Francisco include:

Chief of Police. Supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

Correctional Officer. Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institution in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

Criminal Investigator. Investigate alleged or suspected criminal violations of Federal, state, or local laws to determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution.

Customs Inspector. Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.

Fire Code Inspector. Inspect buildings and equipment to detect fire hazards and enforce state and local regulations.

Fire Fighter. Control and extinguish municipal fires, protect life and property and conduct rescue efforts.

Private Investigator. Detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment, or seek, examine, and compile information for client.

Sheriff. Enforce law and order in rural or unincorporated districts or serve legal processes of courts. May patrol courthouse, guard court or grand jury, or escort defendants.

Transportation Security Officer. Inspect baggage or cargo and screen passengers to detect and prevent potentially dangerous objects from being transported into secure areas or onto aircraft.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Security Guard Training

Contra Costa College - San Pablo, CA

Contra Costa College, 2600 Mission Bell Dr, San Pablo, CA 94806-3195. Contra Costa College is a medium sized college located in San Pablo, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,147 students. Contra Costa College has a less than one year and a one to two year program in Security and Loss Prevention Services.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Corrections Manager - Security Threat Groups:
Individuals who head a Security Threat Group (STG) program in an adult or juvenile corrections facility, contribute to the development of agency policies/procedures pertaining to STGs, and are involved in the implementation of these policies/procedures.

Certified Corrections Supervisor - Security Threat Groups:
The American Correctional Association and the National Major Gang Task Force have collaborated to develop within the Corrections Certification Program a Security Threat Group specialization.

LOCATION INFORMATION: San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California photo by Optigan13

San Francisco is located in San Francisco County, California. It has a population of over 808,976, which has grown by 4.2% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in San Francisco, 180, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in San Francisco cost $218,300 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, fifty-seven new homes were built in San Francisco, up from fifty-five the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in San Francisco are professional, scientific, and technical services, health care, and educational services. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, accommodation and food services, and construction. The average travel time to work is about 31 minutes. More than 45.0% of San Francisco residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 16.4%, is higher than the state average.

The percentage of San Francisco residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 41.8%, is less than both the national and state average. Gold Mountain Monastery, Golden Gate Community Church of the Nazarene and Golden Gate Lutheran Church are among the churches located in San Francisco. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Muslim Estimate and the United Methodist Church.

San Francisco is home to the Pier 88 and the Prayer Book Cross as well as Helen Wills Playground and Music Concourse. Shopping malls in the area include Yerba Buena Square Shopping Center, Fox Plaza Shopping Center and Galleria At Crocker Center Shopping Center. Visitors to San Francisco can choose from Astoria Hotel, A-1 Inn Motel and Best Western Canterbury Hotel for temporary stays in the area.